FWB's Lavin named AOTW

FORT WALTON BEACH – The stats speak of a shooter that shouldn’t be left alone.

55 percent shooting from the floor. 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Jack Lavin rattle off these stats with ease, the 6-foot-4 Fort Walton Beach senior in the midst of a career year.

A career year with an eclectic season box score: 14 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.

Earlier in the season he drained eight 3-pointers against Milton in a 66-50 win.

On Thursday he put up a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double on the road at Pace.

A day later he dished out seven dimes and scored 15 points in a 51-35 win over Niceville, which two weeks earlier had defeated the Vikings 50-49 in the opening round of the Southern Beach Blowout. Lavin hadn't forgot about that setback.

“That first day after, we were just like, ‘Did we really lose to Niceville by a point?’ ” Lavin said. “We couldn’t really believe it.”

Redemption, though, came easily. And it came on the shoulders of Lavin, whose transformed his game from an inside-out player.

“I’ve always been shooting and have shot the ball really well,” he said. “But this year I wanted to expand my game. I can play the wing, down low. I never try to look for the 3 first. But if it’s there I’m always going to take it.”

Now he's our latest Athlete of the Week, where his Q&A expanded on his Duke fandom, his mom's cooking, his dream job and more facts about the coach's son.

Biggest rival I’m assuming is Choctaw? What’s it like when those teams meet?

I played my first Fort Walton-Choctaw game last year. It’s a game unlike any other. We don’t have any other games that are standing room only with that atmosphere.

Does it make the rivalry more intense that Choctaw is so good this year and has state-title aspirations?

I guess it does a little. We’re just going to try to give them our best game.

Are y’all intimidated at all?

Hell no. We’re not intimidated by any team.

Now that y’all are 9-7, how far can this team go? The playoffs?

I definitely feel that we can accomplish that. I was talking about this the other day. The guys on our team have been playing together since middle school, since the YMCA days and everyone is really buying into our system. Everyone believes we can win game games and do what we’re setting out to do.

Right now we’re just taking it one game at a time. We’re really trying to get better as a team, gel a little more. I feel like we’ve gotten a lot better.

I have to say basketball, but it’s close. They’re just so different. A lot of dual-sport athletes play basketball and football because they’re similar skill sets. But golf and basketball have nothing in common.

What’s it like playing for your dad in two sports? How’s he different on the hardwood than on the links?

I talk about that a lot. There are two types of John Lavin. There’s golf season coach Lavin and basketball season coach Lavin. He’s a completely different person – much more serious, much more intense in basketball. At the beginning of high school it was kind of difficult to be the coach’s son, to be put into the game with expectations. But as time’s gone on, I know I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life. I take more pride in it.

Do you have a favorite college team? Any specific players you follow?

I’m a big Duke fan, a big Grayson Allen fan.

You think the whole tripping, immaturity narratives are played up with him?

I think it was. Duke always has that one villain, like with Christian Laettner and J.J. Reddick and now Grayson. I think they were making him something he’s not.

If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

First one would be Abraham Lincoln. The second would be Michael Jackson. The third? That’s tough. Chris Mullen. He’s Left-handed and I saw him play and just liked his game.

Where’s the dream destination for college? Any aspirations to play basketball?

Oh, yeah. I’m getting a little interest from for basketball, but nothing major yet. UCF if not.

What’s your favorite meal, homemade or at a restaurant?

It would probably be my mom’s red beans and rice. There's sausage in there, too. She’s a great cook.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

Probably be Barbados. It’s not that I’m a beach bum, I don’t even go much here. I just like the islands. I like how life is there, the pace.

What’s you dream job?

I would love to be a play-by-play guy on ESPN. Just to work at ESPN and do anything would be a dream. I plan on majoring in civil engineering in college with a minor in communications.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.